A couple of weeks ago I picked up twelve 8’ 4” boards (various widths and somewhere around an inch-plus in thickness) for $2.00 USD each. The seller had 18 to sell and his advertisement said must buy all. It didn’t take long to see that some were rotted completely or enough that they wouldn’t ever be useful. The twelve I found would yield a good 80% or more, so I talked him into the price each for only twelve. I didn’t think that was a bad price.

Here’s are seven of the original twelve. This gives you a good idea of which definition of ‘seasoned’ was used by the seller.

I trimmed off the rot and cross-cut boards where warpage started. Every board was thoroughly steel brushed before running through the planer. Boards over 6 ft. longer were cut in half, since there isn’t enough room in the dungeon to run a longer board through the planer.

Most of the boards were brought down to 7/8”, with some at 3/4” thickness. Some boards were cupped enough to warrant a thinner milling.

Some of the boards were heavily checked throughout the grain, yet they were quite solid. I’m sure I can find some applications for these still quite sturdy boards. Grain detail is gorgeous.

Can t wait to see what cool projects you will create with these boards.

- luv2learn

My wife has asked me several times what I am going to do with the wood. I have a promised band saw box to make for a friend, long overdue, needing a contrasting color to the black cherry I will be using. If I can find a four inch section that doesn’t have any checking in it, that much is promised to be used. The extensive checking would keep these out of fine furniture. But since I don’t know how to make fine furniture, everything else is a possibility. ;)

Paul,
I was checking through my recent posts and noticed an error in my last submission.I was trying to incorporate your comment about fine furniture making into my post, but was unable to do so as Technology can get the better of me.And I appear to have deleted a full sentence from my post.It should read; “As to your comment about fine furniture making.The steps you have taken recently are leading you down that road.“Belt-Up”......and enjoy the ride.I hope that makes more sense.Cheers, Jinky (James).P.S. I will use the Preview option more often in future.

Paul,
I was checking through my recent posts and noticed an error in my last submission.I was trying to incorporate your comment about fine furniture making into my post, but was unable to do so as Technology can get the better of me.And I appear to have deleted a full sentence from my post.It should read; “As to your comment about fine furniture making.The steps you have taken recently are leading you down that road.“Belt-Up”......and enjoy the ride.I hope that makes more sense.Cheers, Jinky (James).P.S. I will use the Preview option more often in future.

- jinkyjock

Jinky, I always appreciate your interaction and comments left on my posts. I have a lot of pressures here, some having nothing to do with woodworking, and in the end, I need to ‘suck it up, Marine!’ ;)